Credit & Support

This is an collection of Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for the UC Davis Math Dept.

• Are there possibilities of financial support during the REU?
• Can I receive university credit for my work?

You can apply to receive financial support for your research work. At the moment the department awards a few Summer fellowships funded by the VIGRE program of the National Science Foundation. Every year, students submit applications which include their grades, references from teachers, a statement of purpose, and other related information. Based on this information, and possibly a brief interview, the research coordinators select students for the fellowships each year. Students receive a stipend to work for a period of one or two months over the summer, either with an individual faculty member or as part of one of the Research Focus Groups. Exceptionally, stipends can also be used during the academic year, e.g., to work on a senior thesis project.

Other sources of financial support are the UC LEADS and the UC MURPPS programs. In both programs, students can receive stipends and participate in extensive academic enrichment activities, including presenting their research publicly.

You may enroll for a "Special Study for Undergraduates" (MAT 99, 194 or 199). Your faculty mentor will be in charge of assigning the grade for the course, and before registering, you must get permission from your mentor. If you enroll for unit credit, you can expect to write a report or paper on your work at the end of the quarter or the project as a way to assign you a grade. Please make sure you have understood the expectations your mentor has for you. It is also important that you clarify what will be the duration of the project. Typically a minimum of one quarter is expected from you (less would not make sense).

Also note, if you elect to earn credit for your area of research, you may qualify for the College Honors Program, which permits students to pursue a program of study in their major at a level significantly beyond that defined by the normal curriculum. It represents an opportunity for the qualified student to experience aspects of the major that are representative of advanced study in the field. Successful completion of the College Honors Program is a necessary prerequisite to consideration for the awarding of high or highest honors at graduation. For more information, contact the Student Services Office at studentservices@math.ucdavis.edu or Student Advising Services at the College of Letters & Science.